[1] Between 2004 and 2006 Vandervis starred in various short films such as the Lovely Creature, A Telling Time, Tough Fortune Cookies and Billy for Lilly as Siren, Julia, Fran and Sarah respectively.
In 2009 Vandervis played various television roles, starting in Packed to the Rafters as Layla Soubrani, The Cut, Underbelly and Rescue: Special Ops.
[2] In 2010, Vandervis played the regular role of Senior Constable Roxanne Perez in the Nine Network police drama Cops L.A.C.
She attended Columba College in the Dunedin suburb of Roslyn, followed by Auckland's UNITEC School of Performing & Screen Arts, where she completed a three-year course in acting.
[6] When cast in the regular role of Harper Whitley, Vandervis struggled with the extension of her contract due to personal relationship issues and considered quitting the show.